US6534736B1 - Key switch of keyboard unit - Google Patents
Key switch of keyboard unit Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US6534736B1 US6534736B1 US10/053,589 US5358902A US6534736B1 US 6534736 B1 US6534736 B1 US 6534736B1 US 5358902 A US5358902 A US 5358902A US 6534736 B1 US6534736 B1 US 6534736B1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- substrate
- elastic body
- key switch
- keyboard
- side portions
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
- H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
- H01H13/702—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
- H01H13/705—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
- H01H3/02—Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch
- H01H3/12—Push-buttons
- H01H3/122—Push-buttons with enlarged actuating area, e.g. of the elongated bar-type; Stabilising means therefor
- H01H3/125—Push-buttons with enlarged actuating area, e.g. of the elongated bar-type; Stabilising means therefor using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H2215/00—Tactile feedback
- H01H2215/004—Collapsible dome or bubble
- H01H2215/022—Asymmetric; Elliptic; Square
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a key switch of a keyboard unit used as an input device for an information processor, and more particularly, to a key switch of a keyboard unit which is slim.
- FIG. 1 shows an information processor such as a notebook computer or a personal digital assistant (PDA) with a conventional keyboard unit 100 having a plurality of key switches 110 as an information input unit.
- PDA personal digital assistant
- Each of the key switches 110 includes a key cap 111 which receives a pressure from a user's finger, a cross link 113 which supports and allows the key cap 111 to move up and down above a substrate 115 , a contact terminal portion 114 which generates an electrical signal in response to a pressure provided on the substrate 115 , and a rubber dome 112 made of an elastic body which elastically supports the key cap 111 thereunder having a contact protrusion 112 a at a center of an inner portion of the rubber dome 112 . As the key cap 111 is pressed down and lowered, the contact protrusion 112 a presses against the contact terminal portion 114 .
- FIG. 4 shows that as a user presses the key cap 111 , the rubber dome 112 under the key cap 111 is pressed and elastically deforms as the contact protrusion 112 a contacts the contact terminal portion 114 . Upon contact, an electric signal assigned to the key switch 110 is generated. As the force pressing the key cap 111 is removed, the rubber dome 112 is elastically restored and pushes the key cap 111 upward to its original position.
- FIG. 5 shows a relationship between the pressure acting on the rubber dome 112 as the key cap 111 is pressed and the amount of deformation of the rubber dome 112 corresponding to the pressure. That is, as the pressure acting on the rubber dome 112 increases, the amount of deformation of the rubber dome 112 also gradually increases. However, as the pressure reaches a predetermined pressure F 1 , deformation of the rubber dome 112 occurs radically, and the rubber dome 112 sinks even if the pressure is reduced. This is a buckling phenomenon which provides a user with a sense of manipulation and that a sufficient pressure is applied to the key switch 110 .
- the key cap 111 of the key switch 110 presses the rubber dome 112 and the rubber dome 112 is gradually pressed and deformed.
- the pressure F 1 Upon the pressure F 1 , the buckling phenomenon occurs, and the rubber dome 112 suddenly sinks inward. This phenomenon allows the user to sense that a sufficient pressure has been applied to generate an input signal and provides a buckling phenomenon is necessary for the user to feel the sense of completeness during a manipulation of the corresponding key switch 110 .
- a typical height of a stroke h 1 from the initial position of the contact protrusion 112 a to the contact position with the contact terminal portion 114 is 2.4 mm. That is, as the key cap 111 is pressed 2.4 mm, the contact protrusion 112 a presses against the contact terminal portion 114 and causes the buckling phenomenon of the rubber dome 112 to provide a sense of manipulation.
- the height h 2 of the rubber dome 112 can be reduced.
- the height h 2 is too short, the buckling phenomenon is not produced properly. In addition, a restoration force which pushes the key cap 111 to its original position is weakened improperly. Furthermore, if a rubber is used for the rubber dome 112 , resistance to a fatigue destruction is lowered significantly as the height h 2 is arbitrarily reduced. That is, to sufficiently perform a function of the key switch 110 , the rubber dome 112 must endure a load of about 60 gf which is repeated 10,000,000 times or more. However, if the height h 2 of the rubber dome 112 is reduced arbitrarily, fatigue destruction of the rubber dome 112 is likely to occur well before the repetition of 10,000,000 strokes.
- a key switch of a keyboard comprising a substrate, a contact terminal portion provided on the substrate, a key cap which selectively moves up and down installed above the contact terminal portion, and an elastic body which supports and allows the key cap to elastically move up and down.
- the elastic body is a band shaped structure and comprises a protruding portion on one side of the elastic body which presses the contact terminal portion as the key cap moves down, end portions which pivot and are supported above the substrate, a central portion which is bulged to contact a bottom surface of the key cap, and curved portions having an opposite curvature to that of the central portion which includes first curved portion disposed between one of the end portions and the central portion, and second curved portion disposed between the other of the end portions and the central portion.
- a key switch of a keyboard comprises a substrate, a key cap which selectively moves up and down installed above the substrate, an elastic body which supports and allows the key cap to elastically move up and down, and a piezoelectric element coating film coated on a surface of the elastic body which generates an electric signal according to a deformation of the elastic body.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a keyboard unit adopting a conventional key switch
- FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the key switch of FIG. 1;
- FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views showing the state of the key switch of FIG. 1 before and after manipulation by a user;
- FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between a pressure acting on a rubber dome and the amount of a deformation as the key switch of FIG. 1 is manipulated;
- FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a key switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGS. 7 and 8 are sectional views showing the key switch of FIG. 6 before and after manipulation
- FIGS. 9A through 10 are exploded perspective views showing a modified structure of the key switch of FIG. 6 according to aspects of the present invention.
- FIGS. 11A and 11B are sectional views showing a key switch according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGS. 6 through 8 show the structure of a key switch 210 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- the key switch 210 includes a key cap 211 which receives a down pressure from a user, a cross link 213 which supports and allows the key cap 211 to move up and down above a substrate 215 , a contact terminal portion 214 provided on the substrate 215 which generates an electric signal in response to a pressing force, and an elastic body 212 which elastically supports the key cap 211 thereunder and includes a contact protrusion 212 d at a center thereof which presses against the contact terminal portion 214 as the key cap 211 moves down.
- the cross link 213 comprises short side portions 213 a which pivot and are supported above the substrate 215 , and short side portions 213 b connected to the short side portions 213 a by long side portions 213 c ,
- the short side portions 213 b are coupled to a bottom surface of the key cap 211 , whereas the short side portions 213 a are connected to the substrate 215 at clips 220 .
- the elastic body 212 is a band shaped structure and further includes a plurality of curvatures. That is, each of end portions 212 c of the elastic body 212 is coupled to a corresponding one of short side portions 213 a of the cross link 213 supported at the substrate 215 so as to pivot together with the corresponding short side portion 213 a .
- a central portion 212 a is bulged to contact the bottom surface of the key cap 211 .
- Curved portions 212 b having a curvature opposite to that of the central portion 212 a is formed between corresponding ones of the end portions 212 c and the central portion 212 a .
- the buckling phenomenon described above occurs at the curved portions 212 b in this embodiment.
- the elastic body 212 is formed of the same plastic material as that used for the cross link 213 .
- any pliable material could be used.
- FIG. 8 shows that as a user presses the key cap 211 , the central portion 212 a of the elastic body 212 is pressed down and sinks. Accordingly, the end portions 212 c of the elastic body 212 coupled to the short side portions 213 a of the cross link 213 rotate in directions as indicated by arrows A.
- the curved portions 212 b concavely deform in response to the pressure generated as the central portion 212 a is pressed down and the movement generated as the end portions 212 c rotate.
- the contact protrusion 212 d presses against the contact terminal portion 214 to generate an electrical signal.
- a buckling phenomenon occurs at the curved portions 212 b so as to allow the user pressing the key cap 211 to receive a sense of completion of manipulation of the key switch 210 .
- the curved portions 212 b of the elastic body 212 are deformed at a position lower than an upper surface 216 of the substrate 215 where the contact terminal portion 214 is installed. Therefore, the overall height of the key switch 210 can be reduced. That is, in the conventional key switch structure 110 shown in FIG. 2, the rubber dome 112 is an elastic body that is installed above the contact terminal portion 114 on the upper surface of the substrate 115 . Therefore, both deformation and restoration actions are performed only above the contact terminal portion 114 . In contrast, in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS.
- the overall height of the key switch 210 can be reduced by reducing the height of a portion of the key switch 210 protruding above the substrate 215 .
- the height of the key switch 210 above the substrate 215 can be reduced because a height needed to secure a fatigue strength and a restoration force of the elastic body 212 can be distributed to an upper and lower heights H 3 and H 2 above and below the upper surface 216 of the substrate 215 .
- the elastic body 212 is formed of a plastic material, which exhibits superior elasticity over the rubber dome 112 (FIG. 2 ), the height of the elastic body 212 itself can be further reduced.
- the key switch 210 of the present invention allows the overall height of the key switch 210 to be reduced while providing a smooth operability.
- FIGS. 9A and 9B show another aspect of the present invention, short side portions 213 a ′, to which end portions 212 c ′ of the elastic body 212 ′ are coupled, are formed to rotate with respect to long side portions 213 c ′.
- FIG. 10 shows that end portions 212 c ′′ of an elastic body 212 ′ are directly installed at clips 222 ′′ on a substrate 215 ′′ so as to rotate separately from a cross link 213 ′′, which are installed using clips 220 ′.
- end portions of an elastic body can rotate more smoothly.
- FIGS. 11A and 11B show the structure of a key switch 310 of a key board unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- the key switch 310 includes a key cap 311 , a cross link 313 which supports and allows the key cap 311 to move up and down above a substrate 315 , and an elastic body 312 which elastically supports the key cap 311 thereunder.
- the elastic body 312 is a band shaped structure and includes end portions 312 c coupled to short side portions 313 a which are pivot shafts of the cross link 313 , a central portion 312 a which contacts a bottom surface of the key cap 311 , and curved portions 312 b formed between corresponding ones of the end portions 312 c and the central portion 312 a where a buckling phenomenon occurs.
- a piezoelectric element coating film 312 d is formed on a surface of the elastic body 312 and generates an electrical signal which is detected by a sensor 316 connected to a signal line 314 . That is, unlike the embodiment shown in FIGS.
- the central portion 312 a of the elastic body 312 is pressed down by the key cap 311 . Accordingly, the end portions 312 c of the elastic body 312 coupled to corresponding ones of the short side portions 313 a of the cross link 313 are rotated. As a result, the curved portions 312 b concavely deform in response to the pressure generated as the central portion 312 a is pressed and the movement generated as the end portions 312 c are rotated. As the elastic body 312 is deformed, the piezoelectric element coating film 312 d generates the electrical signal which is detected by the sensor 316 so as to recognize the manipulation of the key switch 310 .
- the curved portions 312 b also deform at a position below an upper surface 316 of the substrate 315 . Therefore, the overall height of the key switch 310 can be reduced.
- the contact protrusion 212 d of FIG. 6 is not required for this embodiment, the overall height of the key switch 310 can be further reduced by a height corresponding to the height of the contact protrusion 212 d (FIG. 6 ).
- the curved portions 312 b need not deform at a position below the upper surface 316 in all aspects of the invention.
- FIG. 11B shows that the piezoelectric element coating film 312 d is formed on an upper surface of the elastic body 312 , the same effect can be obtained even if the piezoelectric element coating film 312 d is formed on a lower surface of the elastic body 312 , on a predetermined portion of the elastic body 312 , or on any combination thereof.
- one or a combination of the structural aspects disclosed in FIGS. 9A through 10 can be incorporated into the embodiment of FIG. 11 .
- the short side portions 313 a to which the end portions 312 c of the elastic body 312 are coupled, can be formed to rotate with respect to the long side portions 313 c .
- end portions 312 c of the elastic body 312 can be directly installed on the substrate 315 so as to rotate separately from the cross link 313 .
- the overall height of a key switch of a keyboard can be reduced without affecting the performance of the key switch by modifying the elastic body elastically supporting the key cap.
- the present invention allows a production of a slimmer information processor, such as a slimmer notebook computer. Further, while shown using a cross link structure, it is understood that the key switch of the present invention need not include the cross link structure in all aspects of the invention.
Landscapes
- Push-Button Switches (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (17)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR1020010055921A KR100846762B1 (en) | 2001-09-11 | 2001-09-11 | Key switch of keyboard unit |
KR2001-55921 | 2001-09-11 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20030047435A1 US20030047435A1 (en) | 2003-03-13 |
US6534736B1 true US6534736B1 (en) | 2003-03-18 |
Family
ID=19714173
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/053,589 Expired - Lifetime US6534736B1 (en) | 2001-09-11 | 2002-01-24 | Key switch of keyboard unit |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6534736B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP3655244B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR100846762B1 (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20030213684A1 (en) * | 2002-05-15 | 2003-11-20 | Smk Korea Co., Ltd | Key switch |
US20060249733A1 (en) * | 1999-04-12 | 2006-11-09 | Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. | Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same |
US20070278079A1 (en) * | 2006-06-01 | 2007-12-06 | Darfon Electronics Corp. | Key |
US20080121507A1 (en) * | 2006-11-24 | 2008-05-29 | Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd. | Key structure |
US20150009156A1 (en) * | 2013-07-02 | 2015-01-08 | Elan Microelectronics Corporation | Input device and lifting structure for the input device |
US20170365422A1 (en) * | 2016-06-19 | 2017-12-21 | Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd. | Key switch |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
TWM406212U (en) * | 2011-01-25 | 2011-06-21 | Darfon Electronics Corp | Keyboard and protective cover thereof |
KR102409055B1 (en) * | 2017-09-26 | 2022-06-15 | 삼성전자 주식회사 | Keyboard having locking function and electronic device comprising the same |
WO2022036550A1 (en) * | 2020-08-18 | 2022-02-24 | 深圳市汇顶科技股份有限公司 | Pressure detection module and electronic device |
KR200496019Y1 (en) * | 2020-11-30 | 2022-10-13 | 동관 카이후아 일렉트로닉스 코., 엘티디. | Keyboard switch having pressure balancing effect |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ATE39978T1 (en) * | 1982-09-09 | 1989-01-15 | Alcatel Nv | SPRING FOR ONE KEY. |
DE69304443T2 (en) * | 1992-06-24 | 1997-04-03 | Algra Holding Ag | Method of manufacturing a piezoelectric pressure sensitive key or keyboard, and product obtained by this method |
US5758763A (en) * | 1995-08-17 | 1998-06-02 | Hosiden Corporation | Pantograph type keyboard switch |
JP3763626B2 (en) * | 1996-12-17 | 2006-04-05 | 富士通コンポーネント株式会社 | Key switch and keyboard |
US5982304A (en) * | 1997-03-24 | 1999-11-09 | International Business Machines Corporation | Piezoelectric switch with tactile response |
JP3794843B2 (en) * | 1998-11-26 | 2006-07-12 | アルプス電気株式会社 | Keyboard device |
JP2000200525A (en) * | 1999-01-05 | 2000-07-18 | Sony Corp | Key switch |
JP2000267785A (en) * | 1999-03-15 | 2000-09-29 | Alps Electric Co Ltd | Keyboard device |
JP3045296B2 (en) * | 1999-03-26 | 2000-05-29 | ブラザー工業株式会社 | Key switch |
-
2001
- 2001-09-11 KR KR1020010055921A patent/KR100846762B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
2002
- 2002-01-24 US US10/053,589 patent/US6534736B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2002-01-29 JP JP2002020677A patent/JP3655244B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20060249733A1 (en) * | 1999-04-12 | 2006-11-09 | Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. | Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same |
US20030213684A1 (en) * | 2002-05-15 | 2003-11-20 | Smk Korea Co., Ltd | Key switch |
US6706985B2 (en) * | 2002-05-15 | 2004-03-16 | Smk Korea Co., Ltd. | Key switch |
US20070278079A1 (en) * | 2006-06-01 | 2007-12-06 | Darfon Electronics Corp. | Key |
US20080121507A1 (en) * | 2006-11-24 | 2008-05-29 | Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd. | Key structure |
US20150009156A1 (en) * | 2013-07-02 | 2015-01-08 | Elan Microelectronics Corporation | Input device and lifting structure for the input device |
US9092065B2 (en) * | 2013-07-02 | 2015-07-28 | Elan Microelectronics Corporation | Input device and lifting structure for the input device |
US20170365422A1 (en) * | 2016-06-19 | 2017-12-21 | Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd. | Key switch |
US10096437B2 (en) * | 2016-06-19 | 2018-10-09 | Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd. | Key switch |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP3655244B2 (en) | 2005-06-02 |
KR20030022587A (en) | 2003-03-17 |
JP2003086051A (en) | 2003-03-20 |
KR100846762B1 (en) | 2008-07-16 |
US20030047435A1 (en) | 2003-03-13 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LEE, SUNG-JIN;HONG, SOON-KYO;LEE, CHUL-KYO;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:012518/0255 Effective date: 20020124 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Free format text: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SPELLING OF THE THIRD ASSIGNOR'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 012518 FRAME 0255;ASSIGNORS:LEE, SUNG-JIN;HONG, SOON-KYO;LEE, CHUL-WOO;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:012957/0210 Effective date: 20020124 |
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